Thursday, November 20, 2008

Learned Helplessness: a psychological condition in which a human being or an animal has learned to act or behave helpless in a particular situation, even when it has the power to change its unpleasant or even harmful circumstance.

Have my friends given up on checking my blog?

No worries! I am posting something really fun today!!!! I have been making some more journals for the craft fair - I just love these things! They're always a top seller. Each one is truly an individual work of art - something I can't recreate. I love how each on unfolds under my diligent hands...then all of the sudden: it's there! Anyway, I've scanned a number of them and thought I would share! Most of these have been sold, but they're here for your viewing enjoyment - and hopefull INSPIRATION! Well...for those of you who are still looking at my blog ;)

Monday, November 17, 2008

This last weekend, I went to a scrappin getaway with my Victoria friends. It was absolutely amazing! We were in a lovely cabin (a great place for a group of about 8 people is Arbutus Cove B&B - http://www.arbutuscoveguesthouse.com/contact.htm) on the ocean that felt like it was in the middle of nowhere (especially if you're from Oak Bay, right Lissa?) but for me was only a 20 minute drive. I felt immediate peace upon arrival - surrounded by laughter and happiness, and a HUGE mess of toys (although I totally won for having the most stuff...or is that a good thing?!). I ate well, I slept well, I enjoyed myself, and I scrapped a TON!I did a little mini album of "Tea for Three @ the Empress," worked on a mini album for the craft fair coming up - as WELL as checking off two more things from my resolutions list I posted a while ago:1) CHECK: Crystal & Peter's wedding album2) CHECK: Big Maui Album (99% done - just gotta add the finishing touches)3) CHECK: I had completed Krystal & Eric's painting a few weeks agoYAY! Oh, the sense of joy and accomplishment!Note: Currently these projects are buried in my very messy scrap room. One day...one day...you will see pictures!

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Wow...looks like I entirely missed blogging during the month of October...hm...Wanted to just jot a note about what I'm experiencing in the "ebb & flow" of my artist life. As I write, my craft room...or shall I call it my STUDIO...is a crazy mess. After my ballet class today, I spent my time in an old DMB t-shirt (who hasn't been to a Dave Matthew's concert?!) that's got splotches of paint all over it. I've played and played and played...with paint, scrapping stuff, and stamps!!! OH WHAT A DAY!But, I notice that my time (with regards to art) is usually divided into two parts: shopping and playing. Lately, I've done so much traveling, and with that so much BUYING. Gotta love buying new stuff! But, I don't love buying tons of supplies and then not using them :( So, now is the time to USE that stuff - and enjoy it! I certainly am...The other area that seems to be ebbing and flowing is what I do when I play...I go from making a mess to cleaning it up and then back again...over and over I do this. I realize that this is okay - I need to create some order out of the chaos. And, then I need to create some chaos all over again! Mmmm...gotta love the artistic process...Any one relate?Eventually I will share with you pics of what I have done...eventually...Back to CREATING!(A note to my sis, Krystal) SISTER: YOU WILL BE SO PROUD OF ME! I finished your third painting and I think you're gonna love it! It's titled "Laugh" and says "love is life's greatest joy"! Yes, it just came to me today!

About Me

"It is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes happiness." I have so much - truly, I do - a wonderful husband, a beautiful baby girl, an adorable puppy, a relationship with a God who loves me. But, really...if I'm not THANKFUL, if I don't stop and CHERISH these things...how happy am I? Scrapbooking is so therapeutic for me for that reason: it makes me mindful of what I am blessed with!